Month: January 2016

We know that John Shackford, the son of Paul and Rebecca (Hudson) Shackford was born September 16, 1735 in Newbury, Massachusetts and that he married Deborah Seaward on Dec 19, 1758 at the Queens Church in Portsmouth. We believe she was the daughter of Giles and Mary (Hodgdon) Seaward and was his first cousin once removed.

John’s probate records tell us he was a mariner and we believe but have not yet proven that he was the captain of the:

Brig Tortuga which sailed to Antigua from Piscataway on 24 July 1760

Brig Brotherhood which sailed from Piscataqua to Barbados on 15 Jan 176, arrived there 10 April 1761, and returned to Portsmouth on 3 May 1761

Ship Nevin from Piscataqua to Barbados on 16 Feb 1764 and the

Brig Amherst from Piscataqua to Barbados on 5 Mar 1762, returning on 1 Jul 1762, leaving Portsmouth to Virginia on 10 Dec 1762, leaving Virginia for Piscataqua on 12 May 1763, and from Picataaqua to the West Indies on 8 Sept 1763

[Administration on the estate of John Shackford of Portsmouth, mariner, granted to his widow Deborah Shackford, June 18, 1765.]
[Probate Records, vol. 23, p. 460]
[Bond of Deborah Shackford, with Giles Seaward and John
Bartlett, mariners, as sureties, all of Portsmouth, in the sum of
L500, June 18, 1765, for the administration of the estate;
witnesses, Samuel Marshall, William Parker.]
[Warrant, June 18, 1765, authorizing Samuel Penhallow and
William Knight, both of Portsmouth, merchants, to appraise
the estate.]
[Inventory, Oct 22, 1765; amount, L229, 9.6; signed by
Samuel Penhallow and William Knight.]

We are thankful that Mr Otis Hammond summarized this probate record and are hoping to find and share the original on a future trip to Portsmouth!

All posts on this website are a work in progress. We’d love to learn of any corrections or additions to the information shared. Also we’d love it if you’d like the post here or at http://www.facebook.com/shackfordgenealogy) as that helps share the post with others. Thanks!

While researching Paul Shackford, we discovered that one of his descendants, Maria Louise Grouard, the daughter of John Hanson and Amelia Moore (Shackford) Grouard had applied for and been accepted for membership into the National Society of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution based on Paul’s service in the early wars and listed him as a patriot of the Revolution. Our independent research has shown that at the age of 55, Paul was under the Command of Capt Richard Greenleaf’s Fifth Company of the Militia in the Town of Newbury, a unit which was responsible for readiness to respond to service within the limits of the town. We also believe that he is the Paul appointed from March 22 1771 to March 12, 1779 as the keeper of the powder and ammunition.

We wondered what interested Maria in her family history and learned that her father died when she was only 12 so she spent her teen years with with her mother Ameilia Moore (Shackford) Grouard and possibly heard stories about her ancestry from her uncle William Moore Shackford. Her interest in history is reflected by her 1904 membership in the the American Historical Association while she was employed at the Briarcliff School. We appreciate Maria’s application to this organization as we’re confident she must have submitted proof of her lineage and Paul’s service to be accepted. We’d researched how we could obtain a copy of her DAR application but learned that while we could cite the information gathered, we could not share it in our blog so for now we’ll work to independently collaborate Maria’s research. We’d also love to know if Maria did her genealogy research herself, if she participated in local DAR meetings, what motivated her to apply to be a DAR member, and most importantly if she left copies of her research with any family members or a local library.

Here’s how the Lineage book of members accepted in 1898 which was published in 1915 documented Maria’s ancestry:

MISS MISS MARIA LOUISE GROUARD. 22899
Born in Allegheny, Pennslyvania.
Descendent of Paul Shackford, Capt. Ephraim Dennet and
Jonathan Dennett, of New Hampshire.
Daughter of John Hanson Grouard, M. D., and Amelia Moore Shack-
ford, his wife
Granddaughter of Ephraim Grouard and Maria Corson, his wife;
Capt. Samuel Shackford and Sarah Cottle, his wife.
Gr.-granddaughter of Edmund M. Grouard and Susannah Dennet,
his wife; John Shackford and Amelia Moore, his wife.
Gr.-gr.-granddaughter of Jeremiah Dennet and Susanna Peverly,
his wife; John Shackford and Deborah Seaward, his wife.
Gr.-gr.-granddaughter of Ephraim Dennet and Lydia Water-
house, his wife, m. 1751; Paul Shackford and Rebecca Hudson, his
wife, m. 1727.
Paul Shackford, who had served in the early wars, was a
patriot of the Revolution. He was born in Portsmouth, N.
H.; died in 1787 in Newburyport, Mass.. 22899
Born in Allegheny, Pennslyvania.
Descendent of Paul Shackford, Capt. Ephraim Dennet and
Jonathan Dennett, of New Hampshire.
Daughter of John Hanson Grouard, M. D., and Amelia Moore Shack-
ford, his wife
Granddaughter of Ephraim Grouard and Maria Corson, his wife;
Capt. Samuel Shackford and Sarah Cottle, his wife.
Gr.-granddaughter of Edmund M. Grouard and Susannah Dennet,
his wife; John Shackford and Amelia Moore, his wife.
Gr.-gr.-granddaughter of Jeremiah Dennet and Susanna Peverly,
his wife; John Shackford and Deborah Seaward, his wife.
Gr.-gr.-granddaughter of Ephraim Dennet and Lydia Water-
house, his wife, m. 1751; Paul Shackford and Rebecca Hudson, his
wife, m. 1727.
Paul Shackford, who had served in the early wars, was a
patriot of the Revolution. He was born in Portsmouth, N.
H.; died in 1787 in Newburyport, Mass.

All posts on this website are a work in progress. We’d love to learn of any corrections or additions to the information shared. Also we’d love it if you’d like the post here or at http://www.facebook.com/shackfordgenealogy) as that helps share the post with others. Thanks!

We can’t find a marriage record or death record for Deborah Shackford but with the help of Bonnie, another Shackford researcher, we’ve both come to the belief that the Deborah Currier whose will dated 7 Sep 1799 and is found in probate records dated 23 April 1801 is most likely the same person.

From the will we learn, that :

Deborah was married to Caleb Currier who is deceased (probably the same Caleb wrote a will dated March 22, 1784 and died on April 3, 1784 leaving his estate to his wife Deborah and mentions three sons William, Caleb, and Thomas, from a previous marriage).

Deborah’s husband Caleb Currier had a son named William and a grandson named Caleb.

Deborah was first married to a Mr Libbey and had a son named John Libbey who moved to Newburyport and a daughter Mary who married a John Mushaway. [he was her second husband as she had married Samuel Lamson in 1774]

Deborah had four grandchildren living at the time the will was written: Catherine [Lamson] Currier and Rebecca Mushaway daughters of her daughter Mary and Hannah Libbey, and Rebecca Libbey, daughters of John Libbey.

Deborah knew Nathaniel Folsom to whom she loaned money and Jeremiah Libbey, Margery, Ward, and William Walker who signed her will.

We’ll keep looking for source information that helps support our believe that Deborah Shackford married Mr Libbey then Caleb Currier.

Deborah (probably Shackford) Libbey Currier’s Will

I Deborah Currier of Portsmouth in the County of Rockingham and State of New Hampshire, Widow Do make this my last Will & Testament viz
I give unto William Currier (son of my late husband William Currier deceased) one feather bed – I also give unto Caleb Currier grandson of my said husband Caleb one
Desk. The said bed & desk being formerly my said husband Caleb Currier’s Property.
I give devise & bequeath unto my son Jno Libbey now of Newburyport two thirds of the Money due or which may be due to me from Mr Nathaniel Folsom on his note of hand or of any other money due to me or which may be due at the time of my decease. I also give unto my said son John Libbey one feather bed being the
one I purchased anew tick or covering for; & also six birch Chairs
I give devise & bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Massurey (wife of Mr John Massurey) [believe this is actually Mushaway based on a review of the rest of the probate records, jsp] of Portsmouth the other third part of the money due or which will be due me from Mr Nathl Folsom for the note aforesaid at the time of my decease
I also give unto my said Daughter Mary one feather bed – I give devise & bequeath unto Hannah Libbey Daughter of my son John Libbey my silk gown – I also give devise & bequeath unto Deborah Libbey Daughter to my said John my gold necklace I also will & direct that all my wearing apparel not before disposed of be equally divided among or between or between my four granddaughtes viz Catherine Currier & Rebecca Massurey children of my before named daughter Mary Massurey and Hannah Libbey & Deborah Libbey children of my said son John Libbey & my said Daughter Mary Massurey & to their heirs & assigns they equally paying my funeral charges & expenses of setting the business of my estate And I hereby appoint my said son John Libbey sole Executor of this my last will & testament. I witness whereof I hereunto after my mark & seal the seventh day of September 1799 Deborah her mark Currier seal
The Mark made & sealed & declared by
Deborah Currier to be her will in presence of us who signed in each others presence
Jeremiah Libbey Margery G Ward Wm Walker Recorded truly WW

All posts on this website are a work in progress. We’d love to learn of any corrections or additions to the information shared. Also we’d love it if you’d like the post here or at http://www.facebook.com/shackfordgenealogy) as that helps share the post with others. Thanks!

Died at fea, on board the brig Little Cherub, Captain John Shackford, of this town, an active, enterprifing, induftrious, worthy, honest Man. Society and Commerce, Navigation and trade, have loft a ufeful, refpected & valuable member, ornament, fupporter & friend–but what is their lofs, in comparifon with the indefinitely feverer lofs of an affectionate hufband, a fond father, a tender brother and a dutiful fon, his venerable, widowed mother, already fainting beneath trials peculiarly fevere, needs every confolation to ftrengthen dying fortitude; amiable partner, who hath borne feven sons, languifhes beneath this truly afflictive difpenfation; and fix of thofe fons are left in life, to mourn the lofs of a father, at thofe early periods of exiftence, when a father’s counfels are moft needed.Is there a power, whofe lenient art can heal,Thofe cruel wounds, which we are doom’d to feel?Yes! Fuch a power exifts – Religion cries,That God fhall wipe the tear from sorrow’s eyes;Then to that God, addrefs your daily prayers.And humbly caft on him, your varied cares;His power, a father’s place can well fupply;Nor will his goodness, any good deny;There, may the orphan find a peaceful nest;And the lorn widow tafte eternal rest.

SOURCES:

“Died at sea, on board the brig Little Cherub, Captain John Shackford, of this town,” The United States Oracle of the Day (Portsmouth, New Hampshire), 7 June 1800; digital images, Godfred Memorial (infoweb.newsbank.com : accessed 24 September 2013), America’s Historical Newspapers

In an effort to learn who Sarah (Shackford) Pearson, daughter of Paul and Rebecca (Hudson) Shackford married, we are listing the information that we do know about Sarah and a list of possible next steps in our search for information about Mr Pearson.

Sarah Shackford was born in Newbury, Massachusetts February 1st, 1728. Her parents were Paul Shackford and his wife Rebecca.

Anno 1728
Sarah Shackford ye daughter of Paul Shackford and
Rebecca his wife was born February 1st.

3. Sarah would have most likely been married around the age of 20-30 i.e. 1748-1758. We’ve reviewed every record of a Sarah Shackford FamilySearch and Ancestry can not find any marriages of a Sarah Shackford in that timeframe that do not connect to another Shackford.

4. Sarah’s will and codicil tell us:

a) She was a widow living in Haverhill when she wrote her will on March 6, 1811 but died in Newburyport. The probate record expenses show she was cared for through Aug 15, 1814 which is most likely her death date.

b.) She had a grandchild William Smith to whom she left $100 but because her estate was less than her legacies, he may have received $28.89. She might not have been close to him – her codicil stated that if he had died before his legacy was received, she left this $100 to Mary Jane Brown.

c. She left $100 to Amelia (Moore) Shackford, wife of her deceased nephew John Shackford but but because her estate was less than her legacies, Amelia may have received $28.89 She also left Amelia her gold necklace.

d. She left Mary Richards of Boston her gold ring.

e. She left $50 to James Prince who was also appointed administrator. He received $14 because the estate was less than her legacies. She also appointed him as guardian of Mary Jane Brown the daughter of Else Smith of Boston to whom she left the remainder of her estate. Mary would have received nothing as there was no remainder to the estate.

5. Sarah is buried in the Old Hill Burying Ground, Newburyport, Massachusetts.

NEXT STEPS IN OUR SEARCH FOR SARAH’S HUSBAND

Review the other Pearson’s and Smith’s buried in the Old Hill Burying Ground to see if her husband and/or children are buried there. (thanks to Bonnie, a descendant of one of Paul’s other daughters for this idea!)

See if we can find find out more information about William Smith, Mary Richards, Else Smith, or Mary Jane Brown who are mentioned in Sarah’s will (not as easy as looking for information about Shackfords!)

Research Haverhill records to see if we find any land records for Sarah Pearson.

Continue to follow land records from Paul Shackford’s probate to learn what happened to the portion left to Sarah.

Search for newspaper articles that mention Sarah Pearson.

Continue to search for a marriage record for Sarah and for a Mr Hudson who married a Sarah – perhaps she had a middle name which was used as her primary name when she was married?

Look for the administration portion of Sarah’s probate record, the details of the disbursements of her estate may help us find her grandchild, his parents, and thus her husband.

Search for records of her siblings which may have additional information about Sarah’s family.

Review probate records of male Pearsons in Essex County born abt 1728 who died before 1814 (this presumes Sarah married someone who died in Essex County)

We’re always searching for documents that help us understand which Shackford was the Captain of which ship. Therefore we were ecstatic to find this bond dated August 29, 1782 that formally authorizes Josiah Shackford, mariner, and Master and Commander of the Brigadine Flying Fish with six carriage guns and a crew of 25 men to “attack, subdue, seize, and take all ships, vessels, and goods belonging to the King or Crown of Great Britain or his subjects” F

In essence, Josiah was an official Privateer!

From the American War of Independence Website we learn that Josiah sailed from Portsmouth to Montserrat, French West Indies in Sept 1782 and returned in Oct 1782. We’re unsure where else he may have traveled under this official bond.

Know all Men by thefe Prefents, That we Josiah Shackford
Mariner, Woodbury Langdon Merchant, and John
Parker Esq all of Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire
are held and firmly bound to Michael Hillegas – Efqs
Trefurer of the United States of America in Congrefs affembled, in the penalty
of Twenty Thoufand Spanith milled Dollars, or other money equivalent thereto,
to be paid to the faid Michael Hillegas—Treafurere, as
aforefaid, or to his fucceffors in that office. To which payment well and truly
to be made and done, We bind ourfelves, our Heirs, Executors and Adminiftrat-
ors, jointly anf feverally, firmly by thefe Presents. Sealed with our feals, and
dated the Twenty Ninth day of August in the year of our Lord
One thousand feven hundred & Eighty Two and in the Seventh
year of the Independence of the United States.

The Condition of this Obligation is fuch, that whereas the above
bounden Josiah Shackford –
Mafter and Commander of the Brigantine called the Flying Fish
belonging to Woodbury Langdon of Portsmouth the State of New Hampshire
mounting six carriage guns, and navigated by twenty five
men, who hath applied for and received a commiffion, bearing date with
thefe prefents, licencing and authorizing him to fit out and fet forth the faid Brigantine
in a warlke manner, acd by and with the faid Brigantine
and the Officers and Crew thereof, by force of arms to attack, fubdue, feize and take all
fhips, veffels and goods, belonging to the King or Corwn of Great-Britain, or to his fub-
jects or others inhabiting within any of the territories or poffessions of the aforefaid King of
Great-Britain, and any other fhips or veffels, goods, wares and merchandizes, to whomfo-
ever blonging, which are or fhall be declared to be fubjects of capture, by an Ordiinance
of the United States in Congrefs affembled, or which are of deemed by the Law of Nati-
ons. If therefore the faid Josiah Shackford fhall not exceed
or tranfgrefs the powers and authorities given and granted to him in and by the faid com-
miffion, or which are or fhall be given and granted to him by an Ordinances, Acts or In-
ftructions of the United States in Congrefs affenbled, but fhall in all things govern and con-
duct himfelf as Mafter and Commander of the faid Brigadine
and the Officers and Crew belonging to the fame, by and according to the faid Commifi-
on, Ordinances, Acts and Inftrudtions, and any treaties fubfifting or which may fubfift be-
tween the United States in Conggrefs affembled, and any Prince, Power or Potenatate what-
ever; and fhall not violate the Law of Nations or the rights of Neutral Powers or any of
their fubjects, and fhall make reparation for all damages fuftained by any mifconduct or un-
warrantable proceedings of himfelf or the Officers or Crew of the faid Brigantine
then this obligation to be void, otherwife to remain in full force.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
in the prefence of us,

Henry S Langdon, Josiah Shackford
Sally Langdon Wm Langdon
Jos Parker

All posts on this website are a work in progress. We’d love to learn of any corrections or additions to the information shared. Also we’d love it if you’d like the post here or at http://www.facebook.com/shackfordgenealogy) as that helps share the post with others. Thanks!!

“Know all men by these presents, that we are held and firmly bound to Esq; treasurer of the United States of America in Congress assembled, in the penalty of twenty thousand Spanish milled dollars, or other money equivalent thereto, to be paid to,” 1782, http://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.08803500/, Library of Congress, digital version

Copyright 2018 Joanne Shackford Parkes (sharing a link to this post is appreciated but please do not copy this material and paste it elsewhere)

Paul Shackford, the son of John and Sarah (Hudson) Shackford was born about 1702. In 1726 he owned land in Newbury on Fish Street next to the ten rods of land that Samuel Greenleaf was purchasing from Jonathan Dole.

In 1732 Paul purchased land in Newbury from John Dole for the sum of 78 pounds and 5 shillings. He attended Newbury’s Third Parish where he and three other gentlemen would council some “Youes that Play at meeting.” In 1757 when he was 55 years old he was on the Larrum List of the Fifth Company which was under the command of Capt Richard Greenleaf and according to Currier, was most likely the keeper of the powder and ammunition from April 4, 1771 through the end March 1779.

Paul’s death announcement was published in multiple newspapers – we know of The Essex Journal, the Salem Mercury, the Centurion, and the Massachusetts Gazette. This is the announcement from The Essex Journal.

“Died.,” The Essex Journal and New Hampshire Packet, 20 December 1786; digital images, Godfred Memorial Library (http://godfred.org : accessed 25 September 2013). Died, on the 4th instant, Mr. Paul Shackford, of this town, in the 84th year of his age.